Bushtit @ iso12,800

[dankearl]

Pushing the limits of low light shooting...

60% crop, iso12,800, f8, 1/1000, D610, 600mm (300 f2.8 w/2x)
PP in ACR, PS5, NX2.

611_2156bpn.jpg (http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=164339&stc=1&d=1471152770)

[Arthur Morris]

The high ISO looks great. The face is sharp. My usual stance is focus on the eye and **** the lack of d-o-f... But with the bird angled away from you so much I find the lack of d-o-f here bothersome onlybecause the o-o-f focus stuff is on our side of the plane of focus...

a

[dankearl]

Thanks Arthur and I completely agree. These are backyard set-ups and I am struggling with these tiny birds, (bushtits, chickadees, etc.).
I am going to these very high iso because even at f8 I cannot seem to get all in focus. I am about 15 feet away and don't want to get the
birds too small in the frame, but would like to achieve focus. Any suggestions?

[Arthur Morris]

Get the bird to pose close to square to the back of the camera or angling slightly towards you... With the posted image here, I doubt that even f/22 would have helped. That's why I have always focused on the eye and lived with the tail o-o-f...

a

[Bill Dix]

Ditto the above. Since this is a backyard setup, you may get more chances at him, closer to parallel with the sensor plane.